Tool for removing and holding a radiator cap



G. B. cox 2,895,363

TOOL FOR REMOVING AND HOLDING A RADIATOR CAP Original Filed se t; 2,1954 July 21,1959

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS TOOL FOR REMOVING HOLDING A RADIATOR on George B. Cox,Knoxville, Tenn asslguor of one-half to Lyman J. Weaver, Knoxville,Tenn., Eunice Cox, administratrix of the estate of said George B, Cox,deceased Substituted for abandoned applicationserial No, 453,907,September 2, 1954. This application vAugust 28, 1958, Serial No. 757,853

1 Claim. (Cl. 81- 125) This application is substituted for my priorapplication, filed September 2, 1954, Serial No. 453,907 (nowabandoned).

This invention relates to tools for removing and holding radiator caps,especially the caps of vehicle radiators where the temperature of thewater in the radiator is excessively hot.

It is well known that when the water in the circulating system of anautomobile engine becomes very hot, it is difficult and dangerous toremove the radiator cap for refilling the system or for cooling, due tothe steam pressure built up in the top of the radiator which causessteam and hot water to be blown outward through the opening in theradiator pipe when the cap is removed. This may cause injury to a personremoving the cap, due to scalding.

It is general practice for an attendant to place a cloth over theradiator cap in removing it, but this is unsatisfactory because itrequires the hand and arm of the attendant to be extended over theradiator when the cap is removed and is insufiicient protection againstscalding or burning.

No satisfactory tool has been developed or put into general use forremoving the cap without likelihood of injury to the attendant.

One object of the invention is to provide in a tool a socket withundercut recesses to enable the radiator cap to be removed safely whilethe attendant is located at a suitable distance from the point of dangerat the top of the radiator.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of toolsof this character, which may be applied to the cap of a radiator for theremoval thereof in a simple manner and without danger to the attendant.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of theinvention, by the provision of a head constructed to fit over a radiatorcap with facilities for engaging the latter to cause loosening of thecap upon rotation of the head. A handle is attached to the head forturning the latter to loosen and remove the radiator cap. The handlepreferably is of sutficient length so as to enable the workman tomanipulate the head and remove the cap while located at a convenientdistance therefrom. The construction may be simple and inexpensive tobuild and use and will be entirely effective for the intended purpose.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a radiator pipe and cap, showing the toolapplied thereto in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tool detached;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

The invention is shown applied to a radiator cap, generally designatedby the numeral 1, secured upon a radiator filling pipe 2. Most radiatorcaps are formed 2,895,363 Patented July 21, 1959 ice with a pair of cars3 extending axially on opposite sides of the center thereof, althoughsome of? these caps are provided with four ears extending radially atfrom each other. Usually the cap is screw threaded upon the pipe 2 orinterconnected therewith for removal by a turning motion. 6

The tool illustrated in the embodiment shown in the drawings comprises ahead, generally indicated at 4,

preferably circular in outline, as shown in Fig. 2, with a closed backwall 5, and an annular side wall or rim 6 of appreciable thickness whichdefines a front access opening, as indicated at 7. This forms a cuppedenclosure adapted to fit over the body of the cap 1 to receive thelatter entirely within the rim 6, substantially as illustrated in Fig.1.

In order to accommodate the ears 3 usually provided on the radiator cap,the rim 6 is provided with a plurality of semicircular notches 8 in theinner periphery thereof and extending from the front face of the rim 6to the back wall 5. The tool may be provided with either two suchnotches 8 or with four, as shown in Fig. 2, or with other suitablenumber, according to the number of cars 3 customarily provided on theradiator cap 1. The rim 6 is also provided with undercut recesses 9extending circumferentially from the respective notches 8 and formed asundercut portions in the rim to receive therein the ears 3 of the capwhen the head 4 is turned relative thereto. This forms a lockingconnection between the head and the cap which will provide for removalof the cap from the pipe 2 by a lifting motion of the head. One of theserecesses is illustrated in section in Fig. 4.

The head 4 may be built up of separate parts or, according to theillustrated embodiment, may be in the form of a casting of aluminum,steel, or other suitable material, as desired.

The back wall 5 of the head is provided with a sleeve or ferrule 10formed thereon or secured. thereto. One end of a handle 11 is telescopedinto the sleeve or ferrule 10 where it may be secured in any suitablemanner as by a pin 12. The handle 11 is preferably bent at right anglesso as to provide an elongated portion of substantial length which willextend out and away from the radiator cap a sufiicient distance toenable grasping and holding by an attendant in removing the radiator capwithout danger of scalding or burning by the steam of the radiator.

In using the tool, it will be apparent that the cap 1 is normally inplace on the filling pipe 2 of the radiator, as shown in Fig. 1. Theaccess opening 7 of the head 4 is brought into registry with the cap 1,and the annular rim 6 is then telescoped over the cap 1, the ears 3 onthe cap being received within the notches 8 in the head. The handle 11will extend out in a horizontal direction from the radiator and may bemanipulated by the attendant. Upon shifting the handle in acounterclockwise direction relative to the top of the radiator cap, theears 3 will be received within the recesses 9 in the head, and continuedrotation of the latter by the handle 11 will cause the ears to abutagainst the ends of the recesses so that continued motion of the head bythe handle 11 will shift the cap sufiiciently to disengage itsconnection with the filler pipe 2 and thus allow lifting off of the capfrom the filler pipe by the handle. If an accumulation of steam iscontained within the top of the radiator, this may be discharged withoutdanger to the attendant, due to his safe distance from the cap. In thisway the cap may be removed safely without danger and in a very simpleand expeditious manner.

The construction of the tool is simple and inexpensive, enabling it tobe manufactured at low cost, providing an effective tool for thepurpose.

. 3 v a While the invention has been described in one embodiment, it isrecognized that variations and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the invention, as set forth in the claim.

, I claim: r v

A tool for removing radiator caps comprising a head having ,a 'widec'losed back with a surroundin'grim and having a relatively shallowrecess within the rim to receive a radiator cap therein, said recessbeing substantially circular in outline on a radius appreciably greaterthan the depth of the recess, said .rim having apluraIi-ty ofsemicircular notches in the inner 'side thereof to :receive ears on'theradiator cap when the head is telescoped over the latter, said rimhaving undercut recesses at the inner periphery thereof in opencommunication at one end with the notches, each of the undercut recesseshav- "4 ing the opposite end concave on an are extending to the innerface of the rim, and a handle secured to the closed back of the headsubstantially at the axis thereof and extending axially and radiallyoutwardly from said head.

References Cited in thefile of this patent H ,UNITED STATES PATENTS499,814 Williams June 20, 1893 1,188,305 Noerteman June 20, 1916 2,07,834 z-" Phillip's Feb. 8, 1938 2,219,907 Ross Oct. 29, 1940 2,502,587Phipps Apr. 4, 1950 2,599,668 Taylor June 10, 1952 2,694,330 Devies-etal.i Nov. 16, 1954 2,70 ,653

-Goldenbe rg Feb. 22, 1955

